Jason+: A Blog about WordThink

Do you like takeout ?  Or as the Brits say "take-away?" Well, if you use Google services like Gmail, Google Docs, Hangouts, etc., Google has a semi-secret service called "Google Takeout." It will back up your data, and you can download it as a ZIP file. Very useful and nifty if you  a) get locked out of your Google account or hacked b) Google goes crazy and does even more nefarious things than usual with your so-called "private" data (privacy... how quaint). c) you want Microsoft-formats of your stuff. If you depend - as I do - on Google services, Takeout is a fabulous thing to know about.  (They don't do a great job promoting it, of course). Using Takeout to Backup your Google Files Log in to your Google account (just go to http://www.google.com/ ) and make sure you see your name / picture in the top right - or click on the blue LOGIN button on the top right. Go to Google Takeout by clicking on https://www.google.com/settings/takeo

Well Google is doing "something new," or rather unprecedented: threatening a major algorithm update - IN ADVANCE.  Giving everyone "plenty of warning," and spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) among all Internet marketers. Tomorrow - April 21, 2015 - is the day known as " mobilegeddon " or the " Mopocalpyse ," the former term beating out the latter. Basically, Google is threatening that if your website is not mobile-friendly, be prepared to drop in the SERPS (search engine results page) rankings like an Motorola Razr outside of an Apple Store when the iPhone 7 comes out. So -  Is your website "mobile friendly?"  Check it by Googling it on a mobile phone, or going to Google's mobile check site, here .  Do you get a lot, or a little, traffic from mobile visitors?  Is so, be afraid - very afraid.  If not, not so much. The Big Question: One Algorithm or Two? Now, it's not completely clear if Google will h

Google's may be planning big changes to local.  Yikes! http://bzfd.it/1FBGBwe Local search is incredibly important because Many searches are "local" in character - e.g., "Pizza," or "Massage Therapist." Many other searches which you might not think are "local" actually are e.g., SEO Expert. Google+, though hardly a huge social media success, is the #1 interconnect between Google and local. To boot, Google+ can help you "control" your branded searches, and by getting you local reviews make you AWESOME. For example, search for the JM Internet Group on Google.  

You may have heard the news that LinkedIn is acquiring Lynda.com, one of the most successful eLearning sites. As someone who is very involved in elearning - both online and off - that makes me think, and give some thought to the whole eLearning industry.  Who are the leaders? What's going on here? Some pro's about eLearning : learning online means anyone, anywhere and almost anytime can learn. For many small or esoteric topics (e.g., sexual harassment training for a company, or how to use PowerPoint for presentations), this opens up many new possibilities. It allows employers to more easily train workers, and it brings learning to cities like Tulsa or Omaha that do not have the depth of learning opportunities that San Francisco or New York have. It means anyone, anywhere, can take a class on Java programming or a class on how to use PowerPoint.  That's really cool. Top eLearning Sites Here are some of the top eLearning sites -  Lynda.com - soon to be part o

Time is money. In lots of ways. Way #1. Get fast Internet for your business.  The fastest you can possibly get. Comcast, for example, has "gaming" Internet which is incredibly fast - a lot, lot faster than AT&T universe. Back East, they have FIBER which is even faster than Comcast. Time is Money Time is money. Every second that you (or an employee) waits and waits and waits is time lost, money lost, effort lost. As for your consumers, the same difference. If your website is slow, they'll leave. If your website is slow (especially) on mobile, they'll leave (and Google will hate you). A fast Internet connection for you. A fast website for them. The need for speed. Check your internet speed Speedtest @ http://www.speedtest.net/ Google PageSpeed @ https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed

Hey, fool. It's over. Here's a list of 20 great corporate April Fool's gags. http:// onforb.es/1EN4fp6

Google+ may be dying (or not).  No one seems to know. But one thing that would be so useful would be the ability to schedule posts, or even to connect a Google+ profile with Hootsuite. Unfortunately, that seems impossible. One solution?  A chrome extension called DoShare .